• Govt orders probe
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government and the pro-Tinubu political group, the NEW Associates, are at loggerheads over the shooting incident at the mega rally held over the weekend.
Gunmen had attacked the rally, firing sporadic shots targeted at attendees, but they were repelled by security agencies and were forced to flee.
A statement by the Commissioner of Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mrs Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, disclosed that the government has launched a probe into the shooting incident.
The state government called on the Inspector-General of Police to unravel those behind the shooting and ensure they were brought to book.
She, however, said the event negated guidelines for political activities as stipulated in the Electoral Act by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by holding the event on the camp ground of a religious organisation.
The state government warned political groups in the state not to drag religious organisations into partisan activities that desecrate sacred places of worship.
While restating its commitment to sustain the peace in the state by ensuring the protection of lives and property of all residents, it warned that it would not hesitate to sanction religious organisation that breaches the law.
However, the secretary of the NEW Associates, Ebilade Ekerefe, stated that the state government was frustrated because the rally, which it had made several attempts to sabotage, eventually held in the state.
Ekerefe, who mocked the state government for not being able to carry out a counter rally, commended the security agencies for repelling the gunmen.
“They said the rally will not be held. Yet it held. They threatened to also organise counter rallies to sabotage that of the New Associates, yet the noisemakers couldn’t. They tried to deny us venues and threatened to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy of anybody who would give us their facilities to organise our rally, but we finally got somewhere in a remote environment on the outskirts of Yenagoa to organise our rally.
“They used propaganda to demoralise people from coming to the rally, they held meetings with various youth leaders and groups that they had abandoned before now to dissuade them from attending our rally, and spent so many resources in doing so. But, just like the Israelites, the ardent NEW associates members and their teaming supporters, defied all the odds and congregated massively in the adventurous venue to participate in the rally.
“They came as expected to shoot at us to create panic and pandemonium for the rally not to take place, but they failed woefully. The security agencies deployed to the venue of the programme were able to curtail the armed thugs, and our programme went on successfully. I commend the gallantry of the officers and personnel who were alive to carry out their responsibilities and all the gallant youths of the NEW associates who stood their ground.